Chapter 8
eight
Penny
The next couple of days almost feel normal. As normal as they can be for someone in my shoes.
Ace doesn't bring up Johnny once, but I do catch him looking at his phone more and more as time creeps by. It's during those times that he's not smiling.
Any other time, he's all smiles. Not just sexy smirks, but genuine curves that make my stomach tingle.
Everything around us is calm and steady. Life almost feels normal again.
This late in the afternoon, we're just spending time watching television. Leliah's sitting on the ground, her eyes glued to the big screen while I sit on the couch. Spread across the other cushions is Ace. Heels resting against the arm, his head is using my thighs as a pillow.
We've been this way for the last hour, and I haven't found it in me to ask him to move. Not when I'm even feeling comfortable.
His dark strands are soft. During commercial breaks, I find myself exploring the waves. Every now and then, his deep brown eyes will lift up to catch me in the act, but he doesn't say anything. He always looks like he's enjoying the moment.
Every now and then, I'll get a little courage and trace his ear or his stubble. Call it curiosity. Yet, every time I catch myself in the act, my eyes don't take long before they are drifting toward his mouth.
I want to kiss him. It's been days, and he hasn't touched me like before. He's giving me space like he thinks I need it.
The only thing he's giving me is frustrating thoughts.
"You know, I've been thinking." Rolling his head to the side, he looks back up at me. "Do I look like the minivan kind of guy?"
That makes me laugh, and despite his grin, I realize he's serious. "Uh, no, not really."
He looks like he was made to sit on a motorcycle, no matter what season it is. Just thinking about how he'd look on the one parked outside has my stomach doing little flips.
I hate how quickly my mind conjures up an image of his bike. He's not wearing his leather jacket in my head. No, he's shirtless with that inked skin of his glistening beneath the sun's gleam.
It's a crime to have a man this good-looking stuck in my head as much as he is. Even more to picture us there with him.
Will there come a time when I could ride behind him? Maybe once Leliah's a little older, or maybe if she had a babysitter?
Catching myself in the thought of the future and realizing I've placed Ace in it, my sudden shaky breath is met by the gentle stroke of his knuckles against my cheek.
"You're picturing me in a big truck, aren't you?"
Another laugh leaves me, but this one is paired with a warmth that crawls up my throat. "Why are you asking?"
He's thinking about it too, isn't he?
"I can't fit a booster seat on my bike." Chuckling under his breath, he rolls until he's on his back so all he can do is look at me. "I considered a side cart, but I didn't think you'd let her near it."
He's correct, but that's not the reason behind my sudden grin. It's him. He's thinking about her like she's his responsibility now.
"She won't want to go near that thing." Chuckling, I bite my lip to contain another chuckle. "I still don't think a minivan is the right call. Maybe some kind of SUV. Something bulky."
Look at me, entertaining him. The more I picture it, the more it seems possible.
"I'll look into it," he mumbles, setting it in stone.
He's not really going to go out and get his hands on a vehicle, is he?
Maybe he wants us to stick around to make it worth every penny.
Looking down at him, I search the deep brown of his eyes for any hints of amusement. Anything to tell me that he's only joking, and that I'm getting my hopes up.
He's smiling, but there is no tease. Just excitement for the future.
This guy is really something. Does he realize what he's doing to me? A question like that shouldn't be what knocks more of my wall down, but that's what he does. My defenses are down, and there's nothing I can do about it.
Without anything blocking my inner wants, what's to stop me from doing something reckless?
A shaky breath passes my lips, and I find myself stroking his cheek until his smile softens.
My heart does a terrible thing, crashing around my chest as I slowly lean down. Already moving, I know there's no stopping me now. Not allowing myself to think, to worry about if this is okay or not, I lean down to kiss him.
It's awkward positioning, but he doesn't turn away. Despite looking startled at first, it doesn't take long before I feel his fingers sliding through my hair.
Lifting onto his elbow to get closer, I shiver at the hot slide of his tongue against my lips. He lets out a low groan that he tries to keep trapped in to avoid gaining any curiosity.
Losing myself for a few minutes, I sigh against his teeth and lean into his touch.
Every time he makes contact, it always feels good. It's no wonder that I've been yearning for it so much. The more time I spend with him, the less I worry about what he does outside of this.
"Ace..." Whispering his name, I can hear it. The want and need for him. He must hear it too, because he lifts to kiss me again, taking control.
Feeling his fingers leave my hair to cup the back of my neck, there's no containing the whimper that slips through the cracks where our tongues meet.
Losing myself more and more by the passing second, I'm reaching out to cup his face, to silently ask for this to never stop. But like all good things, they have to end eventually.
Leliah's sudden clapping has us separating. Instead of breaking to look her way, we're left looking at each other.
I'm panting, slightly panicking at the realization of how right this feels. At how much I want to kiss him again and get my hands on him. I want it so badly that it hurts.
He's grinning, looking at me in a daze. A man so handsome shouldn't look so happy from a measly kiss, but here he is.
"We should get some fresh air." Suddenly sitting up, he turns. "Leliah, you like ice cream. Tell me she'll eat some. We've got a fantastic little shop that's only a few blocks out."
We've been tucked in his apartment for so long that the idea of stretching my legs has me ready to agree without even thinking.
"Yes!"
Both of us jump at the sudden agreement of Leliah's cheer. Ace looks at me with his brows lifted before getting to his feet. Unsure if he should make a deal about her being vocal, he radiates with his excitement instead.
"Sounds like a plan then." He's cheeky, moving to ruffle her hair as she gets up.
Over the last few days, she's opened up to him more. Rather than just watching him all the time, she's becoming more excited. More vocal than before. Doesn't hurt that Ace has been working to win her over, either.
He always looks so smug every time he gets a small win. I'm more surprised he doesn't pump his fist when he gets up. Instead, he swoops down to steal a peck before stretching.
I've got it pretty bad when I have to press my legs together just from the sliver of skin that shows beneath his shirt.
Ice cream is a good treat. It's cold enough to hopefully cool down this inferno that this man fills me with from doing nothing but simply being near. The kisses are the match, and every touch he sends my way is gasoline.
Is it the same for him?
"You get her ready, and then we can walk? Just give me a minute, and I'll be ready." He peels himself away, but not before squeezing my shoulder.
Nodding in agreement, I work on hunting down her socks and shoes.
Thankfully, she's fully on board. Going as far as insisting on being able to put them on herself, I let her go at it.
While she's shoving her feet through her socks, I'm searching for what else I could bring on a stroll to avoid any issues.
It feels like it's been an eternity since I last went on a casual walk. We'd gotten a stroller in hopes that it would encourage me to get outside more often, but with how busy my days were, I never really found time.
Wait. I'd seen that stroller rather recently, haven't I?
They'd grabbed enough to fill one of those mystery vans of theirs. While I'm sure many of them were just trying to grab whatever they could, I'm thankful to whoever grabbed her stroller. I'd seen it in passing; now I just have to find it.
Assuming it's where everything else they brought in is, I follow in Ace's direction.
Making my way to his bedroom, the room we've basically stolen from him, I walk too casually inside. It's because my guard is so lowered that I'm caught completely off guard by the sudden gun in Ace's hand.
He's in the middle of strapping it to his jeans, facing an open safe where even more weapons rest inside.
Hearing my movement, he glances my way before quickly finishing, closing the door with a heavy click in the silent room.
"Penny..."
Steadying my breathing, I force my feet to move. Searching for the stroller, I find it against the wall. "I know. You need it to protect us." Dragging it a little, I huff at its weight. "It's okay."
It really is. I can't pretend that all of these guys only fight with their fists. If Ace wants to keep Leliah safe, then I can't hold him back because I get a little uncomfortable because of a gun or two.
He carefully approaches before taking the stroller from my grip. I'm more upset by how easily he lifts it. "I'll always keep them locked up if there isn't a threat."
Even now, it's like he can read my mind. That, or he's thinking about Leliah as much as I am.
"Thank you." Nodding, I notice his shoulders slump in relief. "Let's go get that ice cream."